Breaking: In Kebbi, CBN Barred Journalists From Covering Distribution Of Sensitive Materials For Gov’ship, House Of Assembly Elections

From Ayodele Ajoge, Birnin-Kebbi

Authorities of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in Kebbi State on Wednesday  prevented journalists from covering the distribution of sensitive materials for  Saturday governorship and State Houses Assembly elections to 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

 Journalists in the State were officially invited by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) through a letter signed by the Commission’s  Administrative Secretary, Muhammad Ahmad Ushama to witness and report the distribution to ensure transparency.

The HoD of Voter’s Education and Publicity, Muhammad Rabi’u who arrived at the Central Bank had pleaded with the Security men on duty to allow members of the press into the distribution area but the security men insisted that they had not received order towards that effect from above.

All efforts by the Head of Publicity to convince the security men on duty proved abortive, as they insisted to hear from above before they would Complied.

Journalists however expressed dismay over the attitude of the apex bank, recalling that a similar scenario played out in 2019 governorship elections when the same bank prevented journalists from reporting the distribution of election materials to Local Council Areas.